Adapter for rim cylinder locks, for door installation



1966 J. STRAUSS ADAPTER FOR RIM CYLINDER LOCKS, FOR

DOOR INSTALLATION Filed April 4, 1963 7 INVENTOR Joe/ 5/ra.us$

United States Patent 3,233,440 ADAPTER FGR REM CYLINDER LOCKS, FOR DOOR INSTALLATION Joel Strauss, 968 Montgomery St, Brooklyn 13, N.Y. Filed Apr. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 27%,652 19 Claims. (Cl. 737ll) This invention relates to locks, and more particularly to means for mounting rim locks of surface mounted locks in doors.

Prior art methods and devices for changing rim locks in doors required the services of a skilled mechanic.

Accordingly, when a householder wished to have a rim lock changed, it was necessary for him to procure the services of a locksmith or at least some person skilled in such matters.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economical adapter means whereby conventional rim locks may be installed in a door so that they can subsequently be readily removed and replaced, without the necessity of removing the latches or bolts by people having no particular mechanical skill or experience.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adapter means which can be readily installed in the door by a mechanic in readiness for taking any conventional rim lock.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement wherein only a person having authorization, for example, a person holding a key to the particular lock which it is desired to remove, can remove that lock.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description to follow.

In general, the invention is particularly applicable to rim locks of the usual type which have an extending rear rotative tongue for effecting the opening of a burglarproof bolt mounted on the back of door. Such bolts are very common and can be key operated from outside the door, or handle manually operated from the room side of the door.

The invention also comprises a lock retaining member which is fastened to the tongue and which coacts with a slotted retainer plate in the manner of a pin and bayonet slot arrangement to prevent unauthorized lock removal. The overall combination comprises an adapter cylinder which is inserted in a bore in the door as a permanent part thereof, although removable, if need be. The lock is inserted in the adapter cylinder and a set screw passing through the door edge and through the adapter abuts the body of the lock at the same time passing directly behind the ear thereof to prevent forced withdrawal thereby securely retaining such lock within the adapter. The adapter carries internally a pair of aligning pins which protrude into the threaded bores of the ears of a conventional rim cylinder lock so that the lock will be held non-rotatively by the set screw in proper upright position. Thus, by virtue of the adapter cylinder and the set screw passing through the edge of the door and abutting the body of the lock, any rim lock can be readily removed and exchanged for another lock of the same type. Further, by providing a retaining pin and bayonet slot coaction whereby the tongue must be rotated by means of a key placed in the lock to align a pin carried on the tongue with a slot in a retainer plate, only an authorized person, i.e., a person having a key to that lock, can remove the lock.

A detailed description of the invention now follows, in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective showing the various components of the invention;

3,233,449 Fatented Feb. 8, 1966 FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken through a door, showing the assembled components of the invention and a rim cylinder lock therein;

FIG. 3 is a section through 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of a retaining pin of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of another form of retaining P FIG. 6 is an elevation, partially in section, showing the retaining pin of FIG. 5 mounted and coacting with the tongue of the lock;

FIG. 7 is a view of a front of a lock with a key in place showing the angle of turning either left or right, depending on lock type, in order to remove the lock;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modified adapter cylinder and set screw;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional fragmentary view taken at right angles to FIG. 8 showing the mode of making the aligning pins integral with the adapter cylinder; and

FIG. 10 is a modified construction of lock retaining means.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular FIGS. 1-4, there is illustrated a conventional rim cylinder lock 10 having cylinder portion 14 and the tumbler housing 16 as well as having the usual ears 20 with threaded bores 21; and the front plate 23 having at its face the front of the rotative barrel 25 (FIG. 7) having barrel retainer plate 26 (FIG. 1) which barrel takes the key 27. Extending rearwardly from the tumbler barrel is the tongue 3d which is rotated thereby to lock and unlock the usual door bolt (not shown) understood to be mounted on the room side of the door.

The structure thus far described is entirely of conven tional nature and represents a standard commercial rim cylinder lock.

For the purpose of adapting a door for installation of the lock described above, an adapter cylinder 33 is utilized having a front flange 36 which engages the margin of a lock bore 46 in a door 43 (see FIG. 2). An aperture 47 is provided through the wall of the adapter cylinder to permit passage of a set screw 5i which passes through a transverse bore 52 in the door edge 53. Preferably, such bore is fitted with a metallic threaded sleeve 56 which may be force fitted in the bore so that metallic thread coaction is provided for set screw 50. As will be seen in FIG. 2, the lock fits into the adapter cylinder with the face plate 23 having a close manually sliding fit and the set screw 59 has a tip 60 which will be understood to impinge against the cylinder portion at about the location shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the lock and the adapter cyiinder are secured to the door within the bore 40 by means of the set screw 50.

Preferably, the adapter cylinder is formed with a ribbing or corrugation such as 63, against which the front plate 23 of the lock may rest for squaring up with the adapter cylinder.

In order to properly align the lock and render it nonrotative so that the key slot will be vertical, the adapter cylinder 33 has a rear wall or retainer plate which may be integral therewith, or a separate piece suitably welded or otherwise secured, and a pair of aligning pins, such as 68, are fastened within the cylinder, either by being brazed to the wall 65 and to the cylinder 33, or to either. Cylinder 33 is non-rotatively secured to the door by screws 66 threaded into bores 64 of rear wall 65 and passing through a backing plate 67 which clamps against the back of the door, thus providing an adjustability for different thicknesses of doors. Screws 66 and pins 68 prevent rotation of the lock. Thus, pins 68 may be L-shaped as shown, and have portions disposed with their axis parallel to the axes of the lock and adapter 3 cylinder. The pins can protrude into the bores 21 of cars 20 when the lock is placed into the adapter cylinder. Such bores are normally provided in conventional rim locks to take screws for fastening the locks in place. However, no screw coaction is needed with the aligning pins 68 and, accordingly, the threading is not used.

Thus, with the construction described and disregarding for the moment the special features for retaining the lock against unauthorized removal (to be later described), it will be noted that in order to remove the lock, all that is necessary is to back out the set screw 50 until the adapter ear 20 is cleared by tip 60, and then by inserting a key in the lock and rotating it so that the key is retained in the lock to serve as a pulling handle, the entire lock may be readily slid out of adapter cylinder 33. This could be accomplished without the key, e.g., by using a thin hook inserted in the key slot for pulling. A new lock may then be put in place and this can likewise be accomplished even without a key therein; by simply aligning it with the key slot vertical and pushing it into the adapter cylinder so that the aligning pins 68 will go into the bores 21. Thereafter, the set screw 59 is threaded back into place against the cylinder 14 of the lock.

In order to protect against removal of the lock by an unauthorized person, assuming the door is open, leaving the set screw accessible, a pin and bayonet slot arrangement is utilized comprising a slotted retaining pin member 80 having the slot 83 by which the member 85 can be mountedv on tongue 30, and fastened thereto by a set screw '86. The member 80 is provided with a retaining pin, such as the rectangularly shaped pin 90. The end plate 65 is a retainer plate provided with an aperture 93 having a pair of radial slots such as 96 which are angular-.

ly disposed at about the 4 oclock and 8 oclock po- 'sitions as shown, and are of sufficient Width so that the pin '90 may pass therethrough when the tumbler barrel 25 of the lock is rotated by means of the key to the exteilt of the position of either slot 96, depending on direction in which the key turns in the lock. Accordingly, two slots 96 are provided so as to adapt the invention to locks of either direction of key rotation. The plurality of slots are provided to take care of diiferent types of latch mechanisms, although it will be understood that for any specific type, a single slot would be all that is necessary. Thus, with the protective feature afforded by the retaining pin 90 and the slots 96, the lock tumbler barrel 25 'must be partially rotated by means of the key to a position such that the tongue and thus pin 99 are oriented to align the 'pin with a slot 96 to pass therethrough when the lock is slid into position in adapter cylinder 33. Thereafter, rotation of the key will cause the pin 90 to sweep beyond the slot through which it has passed and by abutment with the exterior face of retainer plate 65 will retain the lock in the adapter cylinder, pins 68 protruding through bores 21. Conversely, when it is desired to remove the lock, the key is rotated to align pin 90 with the respective slot 96 and the lock thus pulled out by pulling on the key assuming, of course, that set screw St) has "first been removed or backed out sufficiently. Alignmerit of the pin and slot, although not visible, is easily accomplished by ,maintaining a pulling pressure on the key while rotating it until the pin finds the slot and comes through it. In any event, the key is not rotated to the extent of unlocking the bolt but only through part of the arc of lost motion which is'inherent in locks of this kind.

Attention is invited to FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein a modified type of retaining pin member 99 is shown, which comprises a slotted member quite similar to that previously described and as shown in plan in FIG. 4, with the exceptionthat a detent spring 1% is secured thereto which has a short flexible leaf bowed outwardly so as to engage the tongue 30 when the member is slid thereon. This serves to maintain tightness of the retaining pin member 99 on the tongue 30 when the member is slid thereon and lock from a standpoint of dimension.

to maintain tightness in the event of loosening of the set screw 103.

A further feature in connection with the assembly of the retaining pin member on the tongue 30 is the use of spacing washers, such as 107, which are rectangular slotted members as shown in FIG. 5, that canbe slid onto the tongue so as to properly space the pin member from the end of the lock cylinder. Owing to the variations in length between various locks, the use of such spacing washers renders a convenience in setting the retaining pin member in position on the tongue so that it will be suitably distant therefrom as to pass through any. of the slots 96 with the face plate 23 seated against the rib 63.

There may be provided a protuberance ltlti'as shown in FIG. 2 pressed out of the wall of the adapter cylinder. Such protuberance serves the purpose of a retaining element to balance the effect of the set screw 50 which when tightened will engage the lock cylinder 14 sufficiently to lock the opposite ear 2t behind the protuberance.

It will, of course, be understood that many changes may be made. For example, while I have shown the aligning pins 68 as being L-shaped and mounted inside the adapter cylinder 33, they could, of course, be straight pins fastened to the retainer plate 65 or, for that matter, they could be pins secured to the backing plate J67, and passing through apertures in the retainer plate 65. The specific arrangement of such aligning pins is determined with due regard to the location of the securing pins 66. For example, if the securing pins are centrally located on a vertical line, it is obvious that the aligning pins would then not interfere therewith and could be carried by the rear plate.

Referring to FIG. 8, a modified form of adapter cylinder is illustrated wherein set screw is threaded into the side of the adapter cylinder 124 and has a mush roomed head 127 to prevent outward removal. The outer end of the set screw is provided with a kerf as shown. This construction eliminates the threaded sleeve 56 and also reduces the possibility of loss of the set screw since it is always carried by the adapter cylinder. In order to install the adapter cylinder in a door, it is only necessary to turn the set screw so that it protrudes into the adapter cylinder far enough to prevent interference when the adapter cylinder is slid into the bore of the door, the set screw being aligned with a previously drilled hole in the door edge. Then the screw is turned 'out into that hole, in order to key the adapter cylinder FIG. 9, the aligning, pins 130 are struck from slots 133 out into the sides of the adapter cylinder. Such mode of construction is economical and readily accomplished in accordance with well known metal forming principles.

Referring now to FIG. 10 a modification is shown wherein the retaining pin member 159 is fastened directly to theend of the tumbler barrel by means of the usual screws 153 (compare FIG. 1) which go into the end of a conventional tumbler barrel, and serves as a barrel retainer such as 26 in FIG. 1. Tonque 30 protrudes through the member'lstl as seen. Thus a manufacturer can provide a complete unit with the retaining pin member already mounted as a permanent part of the lock rotative with the tumbler barrel and tonque. The adapter cylinder would be specially designed to coact with the In other words, the length of the adapter cylinder would be matched suitably to the length of the lock and no compensating washers or adjustments would be required since a rear plate such as 65 (FIG. 2) would be properly spaced for passage of the locking pin to lock thereagainst in the manner hereinabove described for FIG. 1.

Having thus described my invention, I am aware that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the precise illustrations herein given, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a door having a lock bore therethrough and a transverse bore intersecting said lock bore from an edge of said door, and adapter means for securing a lock in said lockbore and comprising a cylinder of a diameter to accommodate said lock and being disposed within said lock bore, fastening means for fastening said cylinder Within said lock bore, an aperture in said cylinder registering with said transverse bore, and a securing element longitudinally adjustable in said transverse bore and extending through said aperture for and engageable with said lock for retention thereof within said cylinder.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1, said securing element comprising a set screw and means for effecting threaded co-action thereof within said transverse bore and said set screw having a tool-engaging head accessible through said transverse bore from the edge of the door.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1, said securing element being a set screw having thread co-action in said aperture and having a tool-engaging end within said transverse bore so as to be accessible from the edge of said door.

4. A combination of components for use in installing a rim lock in a door, comprising a hollow member adapted to be inserted in a lock bore of a door and to receive a lock therein, an aperture in a wall of said hollow member, a lock securing element adapter to be disposed within said aperture and to move interiorly into said hollow member so as to engage a lock therein for retention thereof, an aligning means adapted to be disposed within said bore and means for securing said aligning means in position to engage a lock in said hollow member for prevention of rotation of said lock, and means disposable for fastening said hollow member within said lock bore.

5. The combination of a rim lock having a body comprising ear means, an adapter for mounting said lock in the lock bore of a door and comprising a hollow member having aligning means insertable in said ear means to prevent rotation of said lock in said hollow member.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, said lock having a rotative member, a retaining element carried by said member so as to be rotative therewith, and a retainer plate disposed rearwardly of said lock and means whereby said retainer plate is fixedly secured, and said retainer plate having a slot therein through which said retaining element may pass when rotated to a predetermined position by said rotative member whereby said retaining element engages said retainer plate to normally prevent lock removal except when said retaining element has been rotated to said predetermined position.

7. A lock combination which comprises a lock having a rotative member for rotation by a key and means connected to said rotative member to open a door bolt upon rotation of said key, a device for preventing removal of the look from a door comprising a retaining means connected to said rotative member so as to be rotative therewith, retainer means disposed to coact with said retaining means so as to be normally engaged thereby to prevent lock removal from said door and to be disengaged therefrom when said rotative member has been rotated by said key to a predetermined position in the course of rotating said rotative member to open said door bolt, whereby to permit removal of said lock, and means for securing said retainer means to said door.

8. A combination as set forth in claim I, including an adapter cylinder for accommodating said lock to the lock bore of a door, said retainer means being integral with said adapter cylinder.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8, said retainer means comprising an end wall of said adapter cylinder and having an aperture through which said retaining means can pass when disposed at a predetermined entry angle in moving therethrough from one side of said end wall so as to be engageable with the other side of said end wall when rotated away from said predetermined entry angle.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9, said retaining means comprising a member having a slot, said rotative member being an extended tongue passing through said slot, and means for securing said member to said tongue at a predetermined position along the length thereof.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 9, said end wall having pin means extending into said adapter cylinder, said lock having ear means provided with aperture means, said pin means being disposed in said aperture means.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 8, said rotative member being a rotative tumbler barrel carried by said lock, said retaining means being secured thereto.

13. An adapter cylinder for a rim lock comprising a hollow cylindrically walled member having an open front end and a rear wall, a pair of pins extending longitudinally in said cylinder adjacent said rear Wall, and an opening in said rear wall having a slot portion at a predetermined angle to the axis of said cylinder.

14. An adapter cylinder as set forth in claim 13, and a peripheral rib means within said member extending radially thereinto adjacent said front end.

15. An adapter cylinder as set forth in claim 13, and a threaded aperture in the cylindrical wall of said member.

16. A rim lock comprising a lock body and a rotative tongue extending therefrom, a means to prevent lock withdrawal from a door comprising a member positionable on said tongue at a predetermined point and spacer means on said tongue intermediate said lock body and said member for determining the position of said member on said tongue, and means for securing said member on said tongue comprising a leaf spring carried by said member and having an end flexibly and frictionally engageable with said tongue.

17. A rim lock comprising a lock body and a rotative tongue extending therefrom, a means to prevent lock withdrawal from a door comprising a member having a slot, said tongue extending through said slot and securing means carried by said member for fastening said member on said tongue at a predetermined position along the length thereof.

18. The combination of a door having a lock bore therethrough and a transverse bore intersecting said lock bore from an edge of said door, and adapter means for securing a lock in said lock bore and comprising a cylinder of a diameter to accommodate said lock and being disposed within said lock bore, fastening means for fastening said cylinder within said lock bore, an aperture in said cylinder registering with said transverse bore, and a securing element longitudinally adjustable in said transverse bore and extending through said aperture for engaging said lock for retention thereof within said cylinder, a lock, said lock having a rotative member controlled by a key, means for securing a retaining pin to said member so as to be rotative therewith, a retainer plate within said lock bore and means for securing said retainer plate nonrotatively therein, said retainer plate having a slot through which said retaining pin may pass when said member has been rotated to a predetermined position, whereby said retaining pin normally effects engagement with said retainer plate to prevent removal of said lock and whereby said retaining pin may be withdrawn through said retainer plate to remove said lock when said member is rotated to said predetermined position.

19. A combination of components for use in installing a rim lock in a door, comprising a hollow member adapted to be inserted in a lock bore of a door and to receive a lock therein, an aperture in a wall of said hollow memher, a lock securing element adapted to be disposed within said aperture and to move interiorly into said hollow member so as to engage a lock therein for retention thereof, an aligning means adapted to be disposed within said bore and means for securing said aligning means in position to engage a lock in said hollow member for prevention of rotation of said lock, and means disposable for fastening said hollow member within said lock bore, and including a lock, and a retaining pin adapted to be carried on a key rotated member of said look so as to be rotative thereby, a retainer plate within said bore and means for securing said retainer plate in fixed posit-ion therein, said retainer plate having a slot through which said retaining pin may pass when rotated to a predetermined position so as to be engageable with said retainer plate to normally prevent lock removal when rotated away from said predetermined position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. 

4. A COMBINATION OF COMPONENTS FOR USE IN INSTALLING A RIM LOCK IN A DOOR, COMPRISING A HOLLOW MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED IN A LOCK BORE OF A DOOR AND TO RECEIVE A LOCK THEREIN, AN APERTURE IN A WALL OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, A LOCK SECURING ELEMENT ADAPTER TO BE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID APERTURE AND TO MOVE INTERIORLY INTO SAID HOLLOW MEMBER SO AS TO ENGAGE A LOCK THEREIN FOR RETENTION THEREOF, AN ALIGNING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BORE AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID ALIGNING MEANS IN POSITION TO ENGAGE A LOCK IN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER FOR PREVENTION OF ROTATION OF SAID LOCK, AND MEANS DISPOSABLE FOR FASTENING SAID HOLLOW MEMBER WITHIN SAID LOCK BORE. 